The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-12-21
ADISQUISITION ON PETS.
THE RELATIVE MERITS OF BEARS,
BEES AND HORNED TOAD5.
Unpleasant Experience OF n
Gentleman, n Bear, and. Bee-
hives-The SomnOIent Frog.

n
and wishing to tone up his system and
tone down his waistband by steady and
ipvigorating exercise may safely in-
dulge in pet bear, writes Henry Guy
Carleton in the New York World. There
is nothing know in the entire animal
kingdom so calculated to furnish a man
with athletic pastime as well-devel-
oped bear.
once had four beehives for pets, and,
as happy combination with these,
was presented with an able-bodied bear
about ten months old. l chained him
in the back yard, and during the entire
morning was entertained by his
playfulness in grabbing the cook
by the leg, Sitting my coat
down the back, killing my pet game-cock
and spelling valuable rough-haired
terrier for any purpose except fertiliz-
ing. Just after luncheon ! was aroused
from literary effort to express my feel
ines to the man who had endowed me
with the bear, and quickly tracing the
curdling shrieks to their source, saw
that the bear was loose. He had rooted
up his stake, gone down cellar, loaded
himself up with brandy peaches, and in
state of hectic excitement, partly due
TO that stimulating CONNECTION and
partly to pan of hot water just flung
over him by the cook, was capering In
the garden and maniiestly eager for
trouble.
There was only one thing to be done
Ito close in with that bear, assert my
mastery and compel him to submission.
Kindness, combined with firmness. will
do a great deal towards softening the
nature of a dumb animal. In view,
however, OF his previous conduct, l re-
solved to omit the kindness on this oc-
casior, and do the greater part of the
softening with club.
The moment l got near enough to the
bear to smell his breath and observe
that he was cross-eyed and reckless, l
had my suspicious that there was some
thing wrong in the plan, and when q
moment later he slapped over the four
hives and closed with me in the midst of
nimbus OF violently enthusiastic bees,
the suspicious were confirmed.
The rough and tumble lasted about
seven minutes, during which / became
heartily disgusted with that bear and
if a neighbor had not kindly stepped
across the way and thoughtfully rem
dered assistance by filing him up with
buckshot l am satisfied l would have
lived to regret the day got him.
A bear is an entertaining pet, but
when not entirely sober and when COM
plicated with several colonies of hyster-
ical bees he Is capable of depths of
turpitude which might shock persons
of refined taste.
Dogs are favorite pets with some, and
three large yellow dogs in small house
will make their presence felt and occupy
the mind of the owner. l have known
men of frugal habit to gets along with
fewer dogs aud remain apparently happy,
but / should say that having three dogs
wi give the question fair trial. Nc
brighter picture can be presented than
that of thriving young man returning
home to the enthusiastic welcome OF
three assorted pups and giving them the
subsequent treat of tom-cat in the
cellar.
Canaries are lemon -colored affection
but one degree removed from felony OF
yellow fever. One pair oil 81 canaries
turned loose on an unsuspecting family
will wreck more happiness than a
gs bank cashiers vacation or fire.
Alligators are easily domesticated, and
are pleasant pets to have in house
with small children, but have found it
Just as effective to leave rat poison
- 4, artlu, p, spread upon doughnuts
6er defgass.
The most refined~and contemplative
pet know is Texan horned frog. A
horned frog looks like lizard which
has been passed through rolling ma
chine and then studded with prickles.
He does not sing and it is necessary to
pry his mouth open and ram his food
down in order to keep him alive in this
trying climate, but with these trivial
drawbacks, he is pet of great alue.
Horned frogs cost nothing in Arizona,
and may be shipped by mail at the same
low rates as rattlesnakes, scorpions and
other territorial produce.
A healthy horned frog will sleep on
his stomach four months without NOV
ing, and then may be turned upon hi
back, where he will sleep four more
and this amusing trait endears him tC
his owner and keeps monotony from thu
door. Occasionally during the summe
he wi open his eyes and take stealthl
review of his surroundings, but this phe
nomenon may not be expected to occu
oitener than seven times in four years
and. as the process is entirely noiseless
will not disturb even the most sensitiv
person.
Pets are necessary TO the higher enjoy
ment of life, but how 10 select is one Q
the most difficult problems ever pre-
sented. There are incompatibles il
pets, as in matrimony and medicines
Cats and canarics do not go well togethe
-or. rather, go together too well, an
the consolidation has little value; an
keeping parrot inthe same cage with
monkey does not improve either h
morals or his plumage. should advis
any one dcsirous of getting pet whic
will brighten his dull hours and enlive
care to procure either sacred white el'
phant or a horned frog, and retire
once to his enjoyment. All other vari
ties are fraudulent and unsatisfactory.
Vfuos.far.n ho Rua